Gambling is all fun and games, especially when you win. When you do it on your home soil, it’s all good and well, but what happens when you gamble abroad? Yes, that’s a good question, and we bet you agree. Pun intended. The United States of America is not a gambling paradise by no means. There are too many states, and separate laws and legislations. But, they’re famous for a few gambling sites which can be called Mecca and Medina of gambling – Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
For most passionate gamblers doing it in Las Vegas would be a dream come true. The dessert city truly offers everything for tourists who enjoy some poker, roulette, or simply playing craps. Yes, rolling the dice in the dessert is truly an amazing feeling. There are simply too many movies about gambling and Vegas not to be infatuated with this city. While the locals and all the US citizens probably know what they need to know about the law and gambling. For foreigners, things are a little bit different. America has strict laws in many departments, and they’re not to be taken lightly.
So, when you’re from abroad there are a few things you need to pay attention to when you’re gambling on US soil. In this article, we’re going to discuss the five things foreigners should know about American gambling laws. As we said, the law across the pond is not to be neglected, and you’d be wise to learn a few things about gambling laws before you play your first hand in blackjack in Las Vegas. Also, it’s vital not to make difference between gambling in a land-based US casino and an online casino in the US. They’re both the same and fall under the same jurisdiction. If you don’t trust us, we found legitgambling.com to be a very good source of information regarding gambling online in the United States. Now, let’s start with what we have to say.
1. You Need to Pay Taxes
When it comes to taxes, the United States of America is rather serious. When you play and win in the US, you need to pay the taxes there. If you don’t do this, you could have issues with the IRS. This doesn’t apply only to cash wins. No, it’s the same for all types of wins, including if you receive dinners or travels. Many games offer these types of awards, and you shouldn’t be fooled that they’re not taxable. You might get an impression that there are no taxes involved considering that a casino won’t hand you any tax form, but that’s not true. They’re obligated to handle you a W2-G form if you win more than $600 in horse races, $1.200 if you role well in bingo or slots, and it’s set at $5.000 in poker. You also want to check your country’s law, as some countries have an agreement set in place with America regarding taxes, so that the issue of double taxation would be avoided.
2. Gambling is Not Legal in Every State
As you probably know the US consists of fifty states. Each state has its laws and legislations, and then there’s the federal law. America can be complicated when it comes to jurisdiction. You should be aware of this as it is a big deal over there. Gambling is legal in some states, while it is prohibited in others. Some of them don’t have a stance on it and are still in the grey zone. So, depending on which territory you are in, different laws apply. As you could guess Nevada and New Jersey allow gambling, which is a well-known fact due to the presence of Atlantic City and Las Vegas. But, did you know that the most rigorous states regarding gambling are Utah and Hawaii? That’s right, they are. This is why the location matters the most when it comes to gambling for foreigners. People who come from smaller countries might be led to believe that one law applies to the entire United States which is not true.
3. Age Limits Differ
Let’s look at Europe. When it comes to some activities in most EU countries the age limit is eighteen. When it comes to the driver’s license, drinking, and gambling you need to be at least eighteen to do it in Europe. In the US for some activities, the named limit is sixteen in the case of driving, while for drinking you need to be at least twenty-one. When it comes to gambling things also differ from state to state and also from game to game. In the majority of cases, the limit is twenty-one. But, there are exceptions. Some states will allow the eighteen years old to gamble, but only when it comes to lottery and horse racing. Also, it’s important to note that some laws regarding age have become quite stricter due to the growth of online gambling.
4. Online Gambling Has its Limitations in The US
As we already said, when it comes to the United States of America there’s no federal law on gambling. It all comes to each state. Some states allow online gambling websites to be on their territory while others don’t. This is something you need to pay attention to. You can gamble in Utah as long as the online casino is not located in that state but in another one that allows gambling. If you find yourself in a state that doesn’t allow gambling, and you find yourself on a website from that state, you might be a part of something illegal and breaking the law yourself. In the worst-case scenario, you might be getting scammed.
5. Don’t Cross The Border
If you’re already visiting America, the best way to do things regarding gambling is the traditional way. So, if you’re having the itch to wager some cash better do it in Nevada or New Jersey. Those places have legalized gambling, they have some of the bigger and most renowned casinos in the world. You won’t be lacking enjoyment and legal risks will be brought down to the minimum. After all, the blinding lights of Las Vegas need to be seen by anyone and everyone. It’s a cult place. They even have an NFL team there these days.
